In Between…
| The call and response, “He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!” echoes in our ears from Easter Sunday. From now until Pentecost, we are in a season of celebration of our Risen Lord. Not much is said in the gospels about the events following the resurrection. The writers focus on the fact that Jesus rose, highlighting His appearances to Mary, the two on the road to Emmaus, the Disciples, and Thomas. John adds the story about Jesus, the disciples, and the miraculous catch of fish where He reinstates Peter. The only other event that we have record of is the Great Commission and Ascension. Do you ever wonder what happened in that time? What did Jesus do and say when He was with His disciples? How different was it from what preceded His death? Obviously, it wasn’t necessary for us to know explicitly, or it would have been included in the canon. But is there a chance that we do know, though? During the time between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the disciples, too, were transformed. Just as Jesus was unrecognized by several after He rose, this band of often wishy-washy disciples is vastly different when we encounter them during the stories found in Acts. Like butterflies in a chrysalis, perhaps Jesus is completely reshaping and reforming His disciples into the bold apostles who will soon be empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we think about this time and what it can be in our lives, may we allow ourselves to be transformed by the power of the Risen Christ. May we be aware of places in our lives in need of transformation and yield them up to Him. May our hearts be reassured by His presence with us—His powerful, death-defeating, life-giving presence. ~Reflection by Becky Nwankwo |
Donald Nwankwo Rector, The Light of Christ Church |